Asymmetric total synthesis of the antileukaemic lignan precursor (-)steganone and revision of its absolute configuration

A total synthesis of (-)steganone, correlating it with L-glutamic acid, shows it to have the opposite configuration to that assigned by Kupchan.     

Mass spectral rearrangements of N,N-bis(4′-arylthio-2′-butynyl)anilines and N,N-bis(4′-arylsulfonyl-2′-butynyl)anilines

The title compounds display unusual modes of fragmentation under electron impact. One of the dominant modes is the concerted elimination of the two arylthio and arylsulfonyl moieties followed by further extrusion of the C₆H₄ unit as a cumulene. No elimination of SO₂ is observed from any of the sulfones nor an expulsion of the C₄H₄ fragment. Such behavior contrasts strikingly with that of 1,4-diarylsulfonyl-2-butynes and of the 1,6-diarylsulfonyl-2,4-hexadiynes.     

Reactive intermediates in asymmetric cross-coupling catalysed by palladium P-N chelates

The palladium dibromide complexes of (S,R)-(1,1′-bis-diphenylphosphino)-2-ferrocencylthyldimethylamine and (S,R)-(1-diphenylphosphino)-2-ferrocenylethyldimethylamine have been reduced with dilithiocyclooctatetraene to form the corresponding Pd⁰ cyclooctatetraene complexes. Their reactions with E-4-methoxy-2′-bromophenylethene, and then benzylmagnesium chloride at −60 to −30°C, provide information on the structure of intermediates in asymmetric cross-coupling.     

Gas-phase copolymerization of sulfur dioxide and butene-1

Mixtures of sulphur dioxide and butene-1 have been polymerized in the gas phase to the 1:1 alternating copolymer by electron irradiation. The rate of polymerization, measured by the decrease in gas pressure, decreased with increase in temperature over the range ?20 to +30°C. The initial G(-monomer) values decreased from 500 to 50 giving an Arrhenius activation energy of ?30 kJ mol^?1. These results are consistent with a ceiling temperature-pressure relationship. The ceiling temperature is about 60°C lower than that observed previously in the liquid phase in accord with thermo-dynamic prediction.     

Analysis of partially resolved liquid chromatographic peaks using dynamic modeling with the kalman filter

Establishing a calibration model is an important part of any mathematical method for multi-component determination. Use of a calibration model based on single spectra is subject to error, because the model spectrum chosen may not be representative of the response over the full range of the calibration. Alternative calibration models require more time to establish calibration, an these may not be convenient for real-time determinations. A novel calibration method is reported for use with Kalman filters. The method, dynamic modeling, is based on the use of libraries of calibration spectra. The set of used to describe the model at any time is based on component concentrations, estimated for the multi-component mixture, as determined from the Kalman filter, so that several spectra can be used to best describe a varying response. Through application of the dynamic modelingt to simulated and real chromatograms, it is demonstrated that use of the method decreases estimation errors cause by model data mismatches, and that full benefit can be obtained from relatively small libraries.     

The isomerization of optically-active propargyl alcohols to terminal acetylenes.

The isomerization of optically-active secondary propargyl alcohols, RCHOHCC(CH₂)_nCH₃, to terminal acetylenic alcohols, RCHOH(CH₂)_n+1 C=CH, by potassium 3-aminopropylamide (KAPA) proceeds without loss of configuration at the hydroxy center.     

Recherches sur la synthese totale des alcaloides appartenant a la serie de la carpaine et de la cassine—V : Synthese totale de l'acide (±) carpamique

The total synthesis is described of (±) 6-(7-carboxy hept-1-yl) 3-hydroxy 2-methyl piperidine [(±) carpamic acid] in five steps from 1-ethoxycarbonyl 6-methyl hept-5-en-2-one.     

Amperometric detection of hydrazine by cyclic voltammetry and flow injection analysis using ruthenium modified glassy carbon electrodes

Glassy carbon electrodes modified with (5-amino-1,10-phenanthroline)bis(bipyridine)ruthium(II) chloride hydrate, [(bpy)₂Ru(5-phenNH₂)]Cl₂·H₂O, are shown to oxidize hydrazine with excellent sensitivity. The presence of an amine group on the ruthenium complex facilitates electropolymerization onto the electrode surface. Using cyclic voltammetry, a large catalytic current is observed upon oxidation of hydrazine in phosphate buffer (pH 5.0), compared to the current obtained from the ruthenium-modified electrode with no hydrazine present. The sensitivity of cyclic voltammetry is sufficient for obtaining a linear calibration curve for hydrazine over the range of 10⁻⁵ to 10⁻² M. Hydrodynamic amperometry was used to determine the working potential for flow injection analysis. The limit of detection for hydrazine was determined to be 8.5 μM using FIA. The thickness of these films was shown to increase linearly with the number of electropolymerization cycles, in the range of 1000-2500 nm for 5-20 cycles, respectively, using Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS). RBS analysis also suggests that the film is multilayered with the outermost layers containing a high ruthenium concentration, followed by layers where the concentration of ruthenium decreases linearly and approaches zero at the electrode surface.     

Rhodopsin reconstituted into a planar-supported lipid bilayer retains photoactivity after cross-linking polymerization of lipid monomers

Transmembrane proteins (TMPs), particularly ion channels and receptors, play key roles in transport and signal transduction. Many of these proteins are pharmacologically important and therefore targets for drug discovery. TMPs can be reconstituted in planar-supported lipid bilayers (PSLBs), which has led to development of TMP-based biosensors and biochips. However, PSLBs composed of natural lipids lack the high stability desired for many technological applications. One strategy is to use synthetic lipid monomers that can be polymerized to form robust bilayers. A key question is how lipid polymerization affects TMP structure and activity. In this study, we have examined the effects of UV polymerization of bis-Sorbylphosphatidylcholine (bis-SorbPC) on the photoactivation of reconstituted bovine rhodopsin (Rho), a model G-protein-coupled receptor. Plasmon-waveguide resonance spectroscopy (PWR) was used to compare the degree of Rho incorporation and activation in fluid and poly(lipid) PSLBs. The results show that reconstitution of Rho into a supported lipid bilayer composed only of bis-SorbPC, followed by photoinduced lipid cross-linking, does not measurably diminish protein function.     

Reactions of powdered silicon with some pyrotechnic oxidants

Thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) have been used to examine the thermal behaviour, in N₂ and in air, of the Si/Sb₂O₃, Si/KNO₃, Si/Fe₂O₃ and Si/SnO₂ pyrotechnic systems, in relation to the behaviour of the individual constituents.TG curves for Si powder, heated alone in air, showed that limited oxidation of Si occurred above 700°. In N₂, Sb₂O₃ sublimed completely between 500 and 900° and, in air, sublimation was accompanied by oxidation to Sb₂O₄. The Sb₂O₄ decomposed at higher temperatures. DSC curves for KNO₃ heated in N₂ showed the usual crystalline transition and melting endotherms followed by endothermic decomposition between 400 and 950°. DSC and TG curves of SnO₂and Fe₂O₃ revealed no thermal events when samples were heated to 1000° in either N₂ or air.For the Si/Sb₂O₃ system, the oxidation of Si by Sb₂O₃ between 590 and 700°, was complicated by sublimation of Sb₂O₃ in N₂ and also by the oxidation of Sb₂O₃ in air. No thermal events were observed for the Si/SnO₂and Si/Fe₂O₃ systems when heated under a variety of conditions in either N2 or in air, although these systems do sustain combustion on suitable ignition. In the Si/KNO₃ system, oxidation of Si occurs in a KNO₃ melt at temperatures above 560° in nitrogen and in air.

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Zusammenfassung Mittels TG und DSC wurde das thermische Verhalten der pyrotechnischen Systeme Si/Sb₂O₃, Si/KNO₃, Si/Fe₂O₃ und Si/SnO₂in N₂ und in Luft im Vergleich zum Verhalten der einzelnen Komponenten untersucht.TG-Aufnahmen über das Erhitzen von Si-Pulver in Luft zeigten eine begrenzte Oxidation von Silizium oberhalb 700°C. Sb₂O₃ sublimiert in Stickstoff vollständig zwischen 500 und 900°C, in Luft wird die Sublimation durch Oxidation zu Sb₂O₄ begleitet. Sb₂O₄ zersetzt sich bei höheren Temperaturen. DSC-Aufnahmen für KNO₃ in N₂ zeigen die gewohnten Umwandlungs- und Schmelzendothermen, gefolgt von einer endothermen Zersetzung zwischen 400 und 950°C. Die DSC- und TG-Kurven für SnO₂und Fe₂O₃ zeigen bei Erhitzen bis 1000°C weder in N₂ noch in Luft den Verlauf thermische Prozesse an.Bei dem System Si/Sb₂O₃ spielt sich neben der Oxidation von Si durch Sb₂O₃ zwischen 590 und 700°C auch eine Sublimation von Sb₂O₃ in N₂ sowie eine Oxidation von Sb₂O₃ in Luft ab. Für die Systeme Si/SnO₂und Si/Fe₂O₃ konnten durch Erhitzen unter einer Reihe von Bedingungen weder in Luft noch in N₂ Thermoprozesse nachgewiesen werden, obwohl diese Systeme nach geeigneter Zündung den Brennvorgang aufrechterhalten. Im System Si/KNO₃ erfolgt sowohl in N₂ als auch in Luft oberhalb 560°C die Oxidation von Si in der KNO₃-Schmelze.

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Dedicated to Professor Dr. H. J. Seifert on the occasion of his 60^th birthday